Explore Patong Beach

Patong beach is a bustling tourism destination in Thailand’s Phuket Province, and lies north of its equally popular neighbours, Karon and Kata Beaches. Attracting divers and non-divers alike from all around the globe, it’s the perfect spot for seasoned and beginner divers to explore the best that Thailand has to offer underwater.

Dive centers and resorts are aplenty, and offer dive courses from open water, up to professional levels. Half and full day dive trips are available locally or further afield to sites around the Phi Phi Islands, Koh Racha Islands and Koh Dok Mai. Patong itself has good reefs that are reached by longtail boat, and nearby sites like at the northern and southern end of Kata Beach boast beautiful reefs, as do Karon Beach, Kamala Beach and Nai Yang.

Liveaboard cruises here are extremely popular among certified divers, as they allow for a much broader exploration.

Courses and Events

Try Scuba

The SSI Try Scuba program is the best way to try scuba diving for the first time. You will be in confined water and well looked after by your instructor, so you can enjoy those first unforgettable breaths underwater and experience the magic of scuba diving. At the end of this short course, you will have earned your SSI Try Scuba recognition card and undoubtedly want to go diving again. Endless scuba diving adventures are waiting for you and this course is where it all begins. Start today!

11 February +95 More
EUR 132.21
THB 4,900.00

Advanced Open Water Diver

If you cannot decide which specialty programs are the best choice for you, join the SSI Advanced Open Water Diver program! With this program, you can try a variety of specialties before committing to full specialty programs. It is a great way to experience what advanced diver training is all about and how valuable it can be to your diving adventures. During the Advanced Open Water Diver Program, you will try out 5 different specialties. You will complete one open water training dive per specialty after a comprehensive briefing with your SSI Instructor. With this trial program in specialty diving, you will have total freedom to explore. You can complete the full specialty programs any time in the future and credit your Advanced Open Water Diver training towards them.

11 February +323 More
EUR 337.26
THB 12,500.00

Open Water Instructor (Instructor Training Course ITC)

The Instructor Evaluation (IE) is the final step of SSI’s 2-Step Instructor Training Approach Divemasters or equivalent-level professionals will have to successfully complete the Instructor Training Course (ITC) first where you’ll learn how to: • Conduct academic sessions • Lead confined water training • Teach Open Water Diver and various Specialty programs like Enriched Air Nitrox, Diver Stress&Rescue, Perfect Buoyancy and more • Develop student management and communication skills Already an experienced instructor with another agency? You may be eligible for shortened oboarding options where you will only have to complete certain parts of the Instructor Training Course (ITC) followed by passing an Instructor Evaluation (IE). Contact an SSI Training Center near you to learn more. Already certified as an Assistant Instructor with another agency? You could continue your professional journey with SSI. Get in touch with a local SSI Training Center to explore your options.

14 February +1 More
EUR 2,158.49
THB 80,000.00

Dive Activity

Diving in Patong Beach

Synonymous with easy, colorful reef diving, Patong will keep beginners and experienced divers entertained for multiple days.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Patong Beach

Indo-Pacific tropical species are common, like anemonefish, angelfish, pufferfish and parrotfish. Macro critters like shrimp and nudibranch thrive, as do favorites like eels, stingrays, turtles and reef sharks. Lucky divers may spot a whaleshark.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 200

Alamy-WaterFrame

Moray Eel
97 Sightings
J
40
F
5
M
3
A
2
M
1
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
1
O
2
N
27
D
16

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 600

iStock/ultramarinfoto

Wrasse
96 Sightings
J
47
F
14
M
6
A
2
M
1
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
11
D
14

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 27

iStock-Global_Pics

Barracuda
66 Sightings
J
17
F
8
M
16
A
0
M
1
J
0
J
2
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
12
D
10
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography

Green Turtle
20 Sightings
J
17
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 90

Shutterstock-Rich Carey

Angelfish
220 Sightings
J
72
F
32
M
23
A
8
M
0
J
0
J
4
A
1
S
1
O
0
N
33
D
46

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 28

Udo Kefrig

Clownfish
210 Sightings
J
64
F
14
M
17
A
19
M
1
J
0
J
2
A
0
S
1
O
0
N
42
D
50

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek

Butterfly Fish
155 Sightings
J
52
F
14
M
19
A
6
M
0
J
0
J
3
A
1
S
1
O
0
N
33
D
26

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 8

Alamy-Reinhard Dirscherl

Bannerfish
151 Sightings
J
42
F
14
M
6
A
7
M
1
J
0
J
1
A
1
S
0
O
2
N
38
D
39

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

iStock-wrangel

Triggerfish
139 Sightings
J
58
F
12
M
14
A
0
M
1
J
0
J
1
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
23
D
29

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

AdobeStock-JirinaVFR

Pufferfish
114 Sightings
J
42
F
9
M
17
A
2
M
1
J
0
J
1
A
1
S
0
O
1
N
14
D
26
Show More

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 12

iStock/cinoby

Lionfish
111 Sightings
J
38
F
3
M
20
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
1
O
0
N
30
D
18

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 100

iStock-burnsboxco

Parrotfish
106 Sightings
J
30
F
14
M
22
A
2
M
1
J
0
J
4
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
17
D
16

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 85

iStock-mirecca

Surgeonfish
77 Sightings
J
20
F
14
M
8
A
6
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
2
S
0
O
0
N
12
D
14

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 350

Alamy-Andre Seal

Damselfish
71 Sightings
J
29
F
7
M
4
A
2
M
1
J
0
J
1
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
13
D
13

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 150

Shutterstock-aquapix

Sweetlips and Grunts
68 Sightings
J
18
F
11
M
7
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
1
O
0
N
10
D
19

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 250

Shutterstock-Henry_and_Laura_Whittaker

Grouper/Basslets
67 Sightings
J
19
F
14
M
8
A
1
M
1
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
9
D
15

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Soldierfish
60 Sightings
J
22
F
8
M
7
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
9
D
11

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

iStock-Hoatzinexp

Jackfish
59 Sightings
J
18
F
12
M
8
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
7
D
12

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 110

iStock-Rainer von Brandis

Snapper
51 Sightings
J
14
F
9
M
6
A
2
M
1
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
1
O
0
N
7
D
10

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Squirrelfish
51 Sightings
J
16
F
7
M
6
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
9
D
11

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 90

Shutterstock-Levent Konuk

Goatfish
44 Sightings
J
20
F
0
M
12
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
11

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 120

SSI-Peter-Schinck

Cuttlefish
38 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
2
S
0
O
1
N
14
D
18

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 250

iStock-Miguel-Angelo-Silva.

Scorpionfish
33 Sightings
J
13
F
2
M
1
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
16

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3000

SSI-Peter-Schinck

Nudibranch
32 Sightings
J
14
F
6
M
3
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
8

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 25

AdobeStock_Vladimir Wrangel

Boxfish
28 Sightings
J
10
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
1
S
0
O
1
N
1
D
14

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 80

iStock-bearacreative

Emperor
23 Sightings
J
8
F
6
M
3
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3

Shutterstock_Leo Lorenzo

Trumpetfish
22 Sightings
J
7
F
5
M
1
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
1
N
4
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 20

iStock-stephankerkhofs

Porcupinefish
11 Sightings
J
4
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
6

The best Months to dive in Patong Beach

Diving is year-round, with water temperatures averaging 27°C-30°C. November to May is the high season, and best time to dive, thanks to calmer ocean conditions, better visibility and sunny, comfortable weather.

Dive Centers

Scubadeep, Scubadeep Patong

186 Taweewong Road, 83150 Phuket, THA

Sea Bees Diving Merlin Beach

99 Muen Ngoen, Patong, Kathu, 83150 Phuket, THA

Dive Sites

Robert B. (#2823994)

Merlin House Reef (★4.2)

This reef is accessable directly from the beach in front of the Marriott Merlin Beach Resort & Spa Hotel.It's very important to check the tide tables prior to heading there, as the reef is only accessible during the high tide period with a recommended minimum water level of 1.5 meters.
Merlin Divers Co., Ltd., 83150 Phuket

Nakaley (★4.0)

Nakaley reef is about 200 meter long. About 10 meters from the beach starts the reef stretching out into the sea 50 meters and running exactly from north to south. The reef gradually drops to 12 - 14 meters depth in front of a sandy bottom. The reef is good for beach diving or boat approach by sea.
Phuket Dive Tours, 83130 Kata

Paradise Beach Anemone Reef (★4.1)

Paradise Beach, is a popular shallow dive/snorkel site accessible by road or longtail boat. Depths usually range from 6-12m, featuring coral bommies and sandy bottoms. It’s renowned for its anemones and clownfish, alongside moray eels, shrimps, and occasional stingrays. Good for beginners and macro photography.
Merlin Divers Co., Ltd., 83150 Phuket

Paradise Deep Rock (★4.3)

Paradise Beach Deep Rock, is an advanced dive site extending off the reef. Featuring large coral bommies and rock formations, it drops to 16-30m. Look for unique macro life like frogfish, reef fish, and larger species such as barracuda and tuna in the blue. Currents can be strong, offering drift opportunity.
Merlin Divers Co., Ltd., 83150 Phuket

Tai Pau (★4.3)

Tai Pau is very close to Kamala and consists of a bay with shallow sandy areas and a maximum depth of 12m. It is ideal for Discover Scuba Diving and Open Water courses and a reef lies just to the North with a maximum depth of 18m.